Bungus Valley is a beautiful tourist destination located in the Kupwara district of North Kashmir. It is situated in the Pir Panjal range and is known for its breath-taking natural beauty, including snow-capped mountains, lush green forests, and crystal clear streams.
It is a perfect destination for adventure enthusiasts who love trekking and camping. The valley is surrounded by several high-altitude peaks, including Mount Harmukh and Mount Kolahoi, making it an ideal location for trekking and hiking.
The spot is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, which comprises lush green meadows, snow-capped mountains, dense forests, and glistening water bodies. The valley is surrounded by picturesque hills that are covered with alpine and coniferous forests. The valley’s landscape is dotted with several streams and waterfalls, which add to its charm.
During spring, the valley comes alive with a riot of colors as flowers of different hues and shades bloom all around. The summer months are pleasant, with temperatures ranging between 10 to 25 degrees Celsius, and offer an excellent opportunity for outdoor activities like trekking, camping, and mountaineering.
As the winter sets in, the valley transforms into a winter wonderland, with the entire landscape covered in snow. The snow-capped mountains and frozen streams present a mesmerizing sight that attracts many tourists.
Overall, Bungus Valley is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts, offering stunning vistas of natural beauty that are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Tourists can also indulge in various activities such as fishing and boating in the clear waters of the Nallah Bungus. The valley is also home to several species of flora and fauna, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers.
Overall, Bungus Valley is a must-visit tourist destination for anyone traveling to Kupwara district, especially those who seek an off-the-beaten-path experience.
Bangus Valley is a beautiful and largely unexplored tourist destination. In recent years, there have been some efforts to develop tourism infrastructure in the valley to attract more visitors.
The Government has initiated several development projects in Bangus Valley to improve the overall tourism infrastructure. Some of the initiatives include building tourist lodges, camping sites, trekking trails, and other facilities to cater to the needs of tourists.
In recent years, the Union Territory government has been making efforts to promote Bangus Mela as a tourist attraction, and it has been successful in drawing visitors from different parts of India. The festival has become an essential part of the cultural calendar of the region, and it continues to evolve as a significant event for the people of Bangus Valley.
Furthermore, the local administration is working to promote eco-tourism in Bangus Valley by focusing on sustainable tourism practices that promote the conservation of the valley’s natural resources and heritage.
Bungus Valley can be reached by road from both Kupwara and Handwara. Bungus Valley is located about 60 km from Kupwara town. The visitor had to take the Kupwara-Karnah road and travel for about 30 km to reach the village of Nowgam. From Nowgam, take the left turn towards the village of Keran and continue on this road for about 25 km to reach the village of Satbaran. From Satbaran, take the road that leads to Bungus Valley, which is about 5 km away.
From Handwara side it is located about 45 km from (Handwara) town. The visitor can take the Handwara-Trehgam road and travel for about 30 km to reach the village of Trehgam. From Trehgam, take the road that leads to Kupwara and travel for about 10 km to reach the village of Batpora. From Batpora, take the right turn towards the village of Satbaran and continue on this road for about 5 km to reach Bungus Valley.
However, these roads leading to Bungus are narrow and winding, and it is recommended to hire a local driver who is familiar with the terrain to avoid any inconvenience.
Despite the efforts to develop Bangus Valley as a tourist destination, it still remains a relatively unexplored and untouched place, which adds to its allure for adventurous travellers seeking off-the-beaten-path experiences.
Overall, the development of tourism infrastructure in Bangus Valley has the potential to bring economic benefits to the local community while providing travellers with an opportunity to experience the valley’s stunning natural beauty and unique cultural heritage.
The first step towards developing Bangus Valley as a tourist destination would be to develop its infrastructure. This would include improving roads, creating tourist-friendly amenities like restrooms, parking, and food outlets, and building accommodations such as hotels, guesthouses, and resorts.
The tourism potential of Bangus Valley needs to be effectively marketed and promoted to attract more tourists. This could involve creating a website, social media pages, and brochures highlighting the scenic beauty, adventure activities, and unique cultural experiences available in the valley.
Sustainable tourism practices need to be adopted to ensure that the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Bangus Valley are preserved for future generations. This could involve creating policies to regulate visitor numbers, waste management, and environmental protection measures.
The local community needs to be actively involved in the development of tourism in Bangus Valley. They can be trained and employed in tourism-related activities, such as guiding, hospitality, and handicrafts, which would generate income and improve their standard of living.
The valley’s natural terrain is ideal for adventure sports such as trekking, camping, skiing, and mountaineering. Developing adventure sports infrastructure and organizing events and competitions would attract adventure enthusiasts and promote tourism in the valley.
Overall, developing Bangus Valley as a tourist destination would require a sustained effort from various stakeholders, including the government, tourism industry, and the local community. With proper planning and implementation of these measures, Bangus Valley can become a popular and sustainable tourist destination.
Every year, Bangus Mela an annual festival celebrated in the Bangus Valley. The festival is usually held in the month of August or September and is a significant event for the local community.
During the festival, locals and visitors gather to participate in various cultural activities, including traditional music and dance performances. There are also food stalls selling local cuisine, handicraft exhibitions, and sports competitions.
The festival is an opportunity for the local community to showcase their unique cultural heritage, and it also attracts tourists from different parts of the country. The festival provides a platform for artisans and craftsmen to display their skills and sell their products, thus providing a boost to the local economy.
In August 2021, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha visited Bungus valley and had said that spot has the tourism potential to change the entire socio-economic landscape of the region.
Noting that Bungus valley has the tourism potential to change the entire socio-economic landscape of the region, the Lt Governor had said that the UT administration has been working in a mission mode to promote the unexplored, untapped tourism potential of this valley, among others. He had further informed that permissions to visit the Bungus valley have been relaxed now.
To make the Bungus valley environmentally sustainable, the Lt Governor had directed the Forests and Tourism Department to chart out viable “Eco-Tourism” plan for the region and all other prominent beautiful grasslands and meadows in the UT. He also suggested for undertaking a feasibility study for starting a cable car in this trekker’s paradise.
Lt Governor had observed that environment and Development are complementary to each other, “we have to prioritise providing facilities in a scientific manner especially in places that are in Ecologically Sensitive Zones”.
(The author is senior staffer at Greater Kashmir)
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author.
The facts, analysis, assumptions and perspective appearing in the article do not reflect the views of GK.